oops ... I deleted these photos from previous post. This will complete my 2007 Holiday Home Tour !!!!!

Mari-Grace's itty bitty Christmas tree. Hannah picked out the decorations, and fabric ... I made the tree skirt, and put the tree together. I also used a couple of sets of the Hallmark mini's ... the Angel's Around the World set, and the Joy to the World Set. The Joy to the world set has a chinese girl. At the base of the tree, you'll see the larger version of the Joy to the World China Set. It has the little girl, and her house ... which is decorated with red lanterns.

My bed.

My kitchen table. I love those silver reindeer, but everytime you bump the table, one of them falls over and the tea-lights go flying.

This is my Nativity Village. Mom and Dad bought this set for me in 2001 for my birthday. It is one of my favorite decorations for Christmas. I like it because it is so unique ... I haven't seen many nativity villages. It is also special because Mom and Dad gave it to me. It is hard to see in this photo, but there are little animals, a water well, little people carrying water jugs, other people feeding chickens, carrying on daily living activities ... and the manger with baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men.

TIS THE SEASON TO BE ______________ .

For me ... the blank is a lot of things. BROKE ... I love to give surprises to everyone. HAPPY ... the Christmas season is a joyful time ... who can't be happy with all of the bright colors everywhere. TIRED...from all of the decorating ( I love decorating my whole house as you can see in the pictures) and shopping and cooking and party going.



AND Last ... but NOT LEAST...Grateful. God gave us the most precious gift of all at Christmas...and yes, I know that we don't know for sure December 25 was Christ's birthday ... and we should celebrate his birth, death, and resurrection daily ... but come on ... we celebrate the birthdays of presidents, and political leaders, and even ourselves ... why not celebrate a specific day for Christ. After all ... without him ... our salvation would not be possible.

My bedroom dresser snowman scene.

My bathroom Shower Curtain.

The rest of my bathroom decorations.

Spare Bedroom/craft room/toy room. I was a slacker this year, I didn't change out my curtains or bed skirt. But who cares .... it's Christmas !!!!

Mari-Grace's Crib ... My friend Judy bought this quilt for me a couple of years ago

... perfect for a baby room!!!

This is the spare bathroom shower curtain ... that bathroom is done in penguins.

It's so small, I couldn't get good pictures of anything but the curtain.

My fireplace ... the picture of Santa Claus is one of my favorite things !!!

My living room view ... this is a HUGE tree. I wanted a tall, fat tree this year ... it's 7.5 feet tall and 5.5 feet around the bottom. I had to move some end tables out of the living room just to get it to fit. Most of my ornaments are snowmen ... I have a BUNCH !!!!!!

My Friends .. Whit, Karyn, and Kaleigh B.

New Pictures of Kennedi G.

This is Kennedi G. Isn't she a doll. Her mom is my good friend Jane. We met thru the FCC group. Hopefully, Kennedi will be home in January or February 2008. She was born on Jan 18, 2007 and is in the special needs program. It's odd...she was born the day Jane fedex'd the dossier to her agency. God works in mysterious ways. It makes me wonder what coincidences lie in store for me and Mari-Grace.

This is actually a picture taken at the airport on Thanksgiving day. Hannah is feeding Maggie ritz bitz. This is proud mom, Jane G. with her son Cade, age 6 and her daughter
Maggie, age 3. Her husband Rich was around somewhere, but missed the photo op.

More Thanksgiving Pictures

Kelley and Karyn sample the dinner ... The Royal Tasters !!!

After lunch ... Whit told Mom, Dad, and Kelley all about the

trip to China to pick up Kaleigh.

Whit and Dad settled in for some football.


Hannah and Kaleigh played. Kaleigh LOVES Hannah.
She wouldn't let Hannah out of her sight !!!!

Greg's back hurt, so he layed in the floor and

let Kaleigh walk on it.

Karyn, Whit, and Kaleigh joined us for Thanksgiving Dinner. It was great fun to have more than just the immediate family there. Geez Louise, did we have a feast !!!

Turkey and Dressing

Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

Glazed Carrots

Green Beans

Spinach Dip

Cranberry Sauce

Hot Rolls

Corn

Chocolate Pie

Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Cake

German Chocolate Cake

Apple Cake

Banana Cake


Believe it or not, the only dessert we actually ate was the Chocolate Pie.
It was great fun to watch Kaleigh play. She is 2 ... and a great joy.

She reminds me, each time I see her, why I am waiting ... and waiting...and waiting for Mari-Grace. One smile ... one kiss...one hug .... it's worth every minute !!!!!! Thank God that I have been blessed with such a supportive family and group of friends.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!! and WELCOME HOME !!!!

Charlotte and Rachael coming down the escalator at the airport.

Riley and Reaghan were so happy to see their momma !!!!

Welcome Home Charlotte and Rachael !!!!!!

The friends and family greet them at the bottom.

Reaghan sharing her chocolate milk with mei mei, Rachael.

Well...another Thanksgiving Day has come and gone. It was an incredible day. I was at the airport when Charlotte got home with Rachael. Rachael is a beautiful little girl. What a blessing to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving on Homecoming Day ! ! !

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.

I have many things to be thankful for.

1. My family ... I don't know what I'd do without them. They have been incredible inspirations and support to me my entire life. I wouldn't be where I am today without them. They have encouraged me to reach for my goals ... and occasionally remind me I am human.

2. My friends ... What shoulders to lean on. This adoption process has brought such wonderful people into my life. I have developed some life long friendships in the past year that I never expected. It has been a great journey ... and will continue as such.

3. I am thankful that every minute and every day brings me one day closer to Mari-Grace.
As of Sunday, the 18th, it has been 15 months of waiting. Most people I know have not had to wait that long ... yet they so gently remind me that God is creating Mari-Grace for me. . . his will is perfect ... and when we are brought together ... it will be the right combination.

4. I am thankful that my friend Charlotte is bringing Rachael home to be a part of her forever family tomorrow.

5. I am thankful that my friends the Groves family, the Powell family, the Daniel family, and the Benham Family have received referrals...and that these special needs children will be given a chance at a normal life where thriving is inevitable.

6. I am thankful that I have been blessed with good health and prosperity.

7. Most of all, I am thankful that God gave his son as a perfect sacrifice. It is because of God's grace and forgiveness that I can live each day. God is the reason I have faith that this adoption will happen. God is the reason that I have the patience to go on each day. God gives me the strength to be an encouragement to others...and he helps me to realize I don't have to be perfect ... I just need to try.

Share your reasons for being thankful with those around you. Tell your friends you love them and appreciate them. Hug your kids and family. Always say I love you. And be Thankful for the little things in life.

Kammy

Celebrating a Chinese Thanksgiving

WOW... I can't believe that Thanksgiving Day is one week from Tomorrow.
I'm really excited. My friends ... Whit, Karyn, and Kaleigh ... are going to join us for dinner.

I'm also excited that of the 6 families in my DTC group, 4 of us live in central Arkansas.

3 of the familes are going to go out Saturday and have a "Chinese" Thanksgiving dinner. We are going to eat at FuLin's Chinese restaurant.

It's so awesome to think my baby will probable have 3 orphanage mates so close to here. These families will have a life long bond because of this adoption. We are so blessed.

Meet Rachael ...our newest FCC member

This is Rachael W. My friend Charlotte is in China, as I write this, picking up this cutie.

They will arrive home on Thanksgiving day .... wow ..... what a way to spend Thanksgiving.